Apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of bag sewing machines



Sept. 8, 1953 K. N. MOORE,

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF BAG SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Filed Juhe 7, 1949 MOORE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8, 1953 K. N.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF BAG SEWING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1949 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 APPARATUS TOR AUTOMATICALLY O'ON- "TROLLING THE "OPERATION OF- BAG SEW- ING MAGHINES Kenneth N..:Moore, West Middletown, .Dliio, .as- Signor =tofThe Raymond Bag Compan ,,'Middl'etown, Ohio, a corporation ofiOh'io ".TClaims.

This inventionsrelates to anapparatus-rfor automatically controlling the operation of a, bag sew- .ing imachine.

Jone object of the :invention is :to provide :a simple positively operated apparatus which can :be easily installed :on a :sewing machine .to inter- J-rupt the operation :thereof upon the .breakingaof zone iofv the threads.

A common type of bag sewing machine comprises :two sewing heads to -:-simultaneously :sew the .two ;ends-'ofia bag, :and -a plurality of threads :lead to the :needle of :each sewing :head, and :it is a 'further object iOf the invention to provide such a machine with an apparatus-which will :interrupt the soperation-iofltheimachine -.upon-:.the zbreaking of @any .one :of "the threads of either sewing head.

n f urther :objec'twof .-the invention :is .to-provide such an apparatus in :which the operation of the v machinezis controlled' by a .light sensitive \device.

-A further :object of the invention -is .to ,provide :such anapparatus-in'which a single beam oili-ght .is projected across both sewing heads :to :a .light :sensitive device -and a plurality of :shutters are associatedwitheaohsewing head and-.eontrolled ny-the respectivethreads-of=the sewing headewith which they are associatedtointerrupt .the beam of light upon thetbreahmgnf an-yrone ohsaid threads.

:Qtheraobjects of the invention may=anpearias the apparatus is described .in detail.

:In =the-accompanying drawings :Eig. .-l. is -.aplan view 'of a -portion of a -bag sewing machine equipped :with the invention; JEig. .2 sisxa .rear elevation-of one f the sewing lheads and the --a-ssociated light controlling. device; Fig3 risen rend elevation .of one of the sewingheadsand its associated lightcontrolling device; .Fig. .4 .is a side elevation Y of one of the light controlling edevices; .'Fig.'5 is.-a section taken through .theilight controlling device -on :the line :5--.5 -=of ;Fig..4 ---Fig.-6-i-s a'section taken through :the. light r0011" trolling device on the line 6-413 'of Fig. "4; and Fig. =7 is Ia 'section :through the light :controlling device taken :on .the line --'-l--7 -'of Big. F4.

-In the accompanying drawings '1. have illustrated one embodimentoftheinventionand have =-shown the same-:asiinstalledi on :a bagrsewing machine of ;a wel1::known-Ttype. :Itis to :he mnderiistood, :however, :that the "sewing machine :may -be of :any risuitable character sand *that :the T0011- tIl)11iIlg3 apparatus as alwholeg as"wellvasathe sev- Peral parts :thereommaytake tvarious storms wand may beinstalle'd onxsewin'gzmaehinessofrvarious *kirid's.

.'-Ihe-. bag sewing machine here illustrated com- ;prises 1a :su-pportingstructure, .or .main frame, .Hl. Two .sewi-ngr heads I land-i2 .are mounted .on the respective :sides .of the supporting structure and a conveyor --l 3 -.on .thesupporting, structure serves .tomove ithecbagsesuccessively to and. beyond the :sewing gheads. lhe ,machine as a whole,.-inclu,d- .ing both;.-.the sewing rheads .and .itheconveyor, :is .operated :by.an-.-e1ectric imotor I54 whichmay be amounted-on orradjacent to thesupportingstruc- .ture .-in-;an-y suitable .position. L'Ghe two sewing .heads and ,the devices .associated therewith, .are identical except that -.one -is .a .right hanii Ihead :an dwthe oth er.is ,a Jet t hand Lhead.

Eachc-sewinghead is provided with .means for zseparatelyi uidingca..plurality of threajdslto the .needle 15 .=of-,.that ,sewingi head. .In the arrangement shown a thread :lfidsled ,trom .a spool, not shown but usually supportedin' an elevated ,posi- .tion withrelation ito the .sewing head, gthrough .a wtensioning-device ,M which .may Joe v of. a conven- --,tiona1 or any ,suitable type, then through two rguides 1.8 spaced .relativelyshort distances one from .the -.other, and then through additional guides 43 and ditto .the needle, vabove the bag whiohaistbeingsewed. .Aisecond thread 2i Iisjled fromrits spool .througha .similar .tensioning device riii, through ,,guides23..to .the .-needle, below :said bag. .It,is,.customary in sewing bags to sew .a relatively thick isealingvithread .to the upper isiderofithe-bageto seal.the.openingsiormedby the needle. .Such .a sealing cthread .is .shown at'fM and 1ed--from,.a;s p0o1, not shown .but preferably located ,below .the iconveyonithrou h .a tension- .dngidevic e..25-. and i througha tubular ,guidegformed .in :thedoot 2 1 .-of .the sewing machine, to the "needle, above ,the bag.

A light sensitive device. 28 'ismountedadj acent .one side of thesconveyor .[3 and .may lbewoi any suitable-shamcterzsuchrasthe.wellknownphoto- .electriccell. gMounted\adjacentetheother vsideof -.the-lconveyornsaallight .source, ,such as .a lamp -29,-whichiis ..arranged..to project ,a.;b,eamof light across the; conveyor onto the light sensitive de- -vice. .iI he slight sensitive .device vcontrols the soperationcotthesewing .machinehas byopening and closing ...a switch iin the.,.mot,or .circuit, vand v.dfor this "purpose .1113 .is provide'd with .the ..usual -a-mplifying means sandprelay, r1101? shown, but f men-ventional type, sandv the relay is connected awithwatmotor switch-$0. .Theearrangementmay eb'e such ithatrthei switch'--will; be either, opened -.or scl'osed by thegdeenergization ofithe-rlight sensitive -device. aIn; the; present instance ,-.the renergization 5 aof: theglighhsensitive5device=maintains tha s-witch 3 closed and the deenergization thereof causes the switch to be opened.

The means for controlling the beam of light may take various forms, and separate light controlling units are associated with the respective sewing heads. Each controlling unit comprises a plurality of light interrupting elements, herein referred to as shutters, which are individually biased into the path of the beam of light and are held normally out of that path by connection with the respective threads of the sewing head with which the controlling unit is associated. Preferably each light interrupting element, or shutter, comprises a plate, or other opaque element, which is pivotally supported for movement into and out of the path of the beam of light and is so connected with the corresponding thread that it will be held normally out of the path of the beam of light but will be released for movement into that path the event the thread breaks. In the arrangement shown each light controlling unit includes a housing 3| mounted adjacent the corresponding sewing head and in the present instance mounted on that head by means of a bracket 32. The housing extends across the path of the beam of light and is provided in its side walls with alined openings 33 through which the beam passes. Three supporting members, 34, 35 and 3B are pivotally mounted, between their ends, in the housing and as shown are in the nature of levers. Light interrupting elements, or shutters, are supported by the respective supporting members for movement about the axes of the latter into and out of the path of the beam of light. The shutters may be connected with the supporting members in any suitable manner but are preferably rigid therewith and may be formed integral with the respective supporting members, as shown at 34a, 35a and 36a. As above stated, the several shutters are individually biased toward the beam of light and are so connected with the respective threads that they are normally held out of that path, but when a thread breaks the shutter controlled by that thread is released and moves into the path of the beam, thereby opening the motor circuit and interrupting the operation of the sewing heads. In the present construction the supporting members, of which the shutters form parts, are pivotally supported in the housing on axes so spaced from the ends of the respective supporting members that that end of each supporting member which constitutes the shutter tends to move downwardly by gravity, this movement being normally prevented by the respective threads. Each supporting member is provided with a part adapted to engage the corresponding thread and retain the shutter carried by that supporting member out of the path of the beam. In the arrangement shown the supporting members or levers 34 and 36 are mounted on a common axis 4| and terminate within the housing. Pivotally connected with the supporting member 36, on that side of its axis opposite the shutter, is a rod 31 which extends upwardly through an opening in the top wall of the housing 3! and is provided at its upper end with a looped portion 38 arranged between the guides 18 and through which the thread It extends, and the thread prevents the movement of the supporting member in shutter closing direction. The weight of the shutter on the supporting member causes the rod 31 to slightly deflect that portion of the thread which is between the guides but this defiection is not sufiicient to permit the shutter 36a carried by that supporting member to move into the path of the beam, but in the event the thread breaks the supporting member is released for pivotal movement and the shutter moves quickly into the path of the beam, thereby deenergizing the light sensitive device and causing the operation of the machine to be interrupted. A similar rod 39 is pivotally connected with the supporting member 34, extends through the bottom wall of the housing and is provided at its lower end with a looped portion 40 arranged between the guides 23 and through the thread 2! and thus retains the shutter 34a normally out of the path of the beam of light. The supporting member 35 which carries the shutter 35a extends through an opening in the front wall of the housing, is pivotally mounted thereon and is provided at its outer end with a guide 26, here shown as tubular in form, through which the thread 24 extends. Thus it will be apparent that so long as all of the threads are continuous and taut the shutters associated with each sewing head will be retained in inoperative positions, that is, out of the path of the beam of light, but in the event any one of the threads of either sewing head breaks the corresponding shutter will be released and will move quickly into the path of the beam of light and interrupt the operation of the machine.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a bag sewing machine of the type comprising a supporting structure, a bag conveyor movable lengthwise of said structure, sewing heads sup- .ported by said structure on the respective sides of said conveyor, and means for separately guiding a plurality of threads to the needle of each sewing head, said apparatus including a light sensitive device supported adjacent one side of said conveyor, a light projecting device supported adjacent the other side of said conveyor and arranged to project a beam of light onto said light sensitive device, means controlled by said light sensitive device to interrupt the operation of said machine when said beam of light is interrupted, structures supported adjacent the respective sewing heads, extending across the path of said beam of light and each having an opening through which said beam passes, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted between their respective ends on each of the last mentioned structures, a shutter supported on one end of each lever and biased to a position in line with the opening in said structure, and a part connected with the other end of each lever and engaging one of the threads of the adjacent sewing head to normally prevent the movement of the shutter supported by said lever into line with said opening and to release said shutter for movement into line with said opening when said thread breaks.

2. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a sewing machine which comprises a sewing head, means for moving articles to be sewed to and beyond said sewing head and means for guiding a plurality of threads to the needle of said sewing head, said apparatus including a light sensitive device, a light source to project a beam of light in the general direction of the move.-

nt ice, nianseentrened 'by d' li-ght en ire at; new terr'upt'uhe'epergeq .of said machine, a supporting strueturengidiy mi'untedfadjac'ent said sewing heaeend in a vance of the needle jth'e'reofand havi'n'g'fan open I "gfthrough which said beam 'of'l'ightpa'sses, "a plurality of levers pivotally mounted between their ends on said structure for movement about parallel axes extending lengthwise of said beam of light, a shutter carried by each lever on one side of its axis and movable by gravity into line with said opening, a device connected with the other end of each lever to engage one of said threads and support the shutter on said lever out of line with the opening in said structure, said levers corresponding in number to the number of threads leading to said needle, whereby the breaking of any one of said threads will release the corresponding shutter for movement into line with the opening in said structure.

3. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a sewing machine which comprises a sewing head, means for moving articles to be sewed to and beyond said sewing head, and means for guiding a plurality of threads to the needle of said sewing head, said apparatus including a light sensitive device at one side of said sewing head, a light source at the opposite side of said sewing head arranged to project a beam of light onto said light sensitive device, means controlled by said light sensitive device to interrupt the operation of said machine, a housing mounted on a fixed support adjacent said sewing (head and having alined openings through which said beam of light passes, a plurality of shutters supported in said housing for movement into line with said openings, and separate means for mov-ably supporting said shutters, the supporting means for each shutter including a part engaging one of said threads to prevent said movement of said shutter and to release said shutter for said movement when said thread breaks.

4. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a sewing machine which comprises a sewing head, means for moving articles to be sewed to and beyond said sewing head, and means for guiding a plurality of threads to the needle of said sewing head, said apparatus including a light sensitive device at one side of said sewing head, a light source at the opposite side of said sewing head arranged to project a beam of light onto said light sensitive device, means controlled by said light sensitive device to interrupt the operation of said machine, a housing mounted on a fixed support adjacent said sewing head and having alined openings through which said beam of light passes, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in said housing, shutters carried by the respective levers and biased toward said beam of light, a part connected with each lever, extending beyond said housing and engaging one of said threads to prevent the movement of the shutter carried thereby into line with said openings and to release said shutter for such movement when said thread breaks.

5. In a bag sewing machine having two sewing heads to simultaneously sew the respective ends of a bag and each having a needle, each sewing head having means for guiding a sewing thread to the needle thereof above the bag being sewed, means for guiding a second sewing thread to said needle below said bag, and means for guiding a sealing thread to said needle above said bag, a light sensitive device supported adjacent 6. foffsaid rhachine, light stores "ra 'd adjacent the; other side of saidirlach -to proj'e'cta beam of light past both-sewing h I "onto saidlightjsensitive device, meanscontrolled by'said light sensitive device tointerrnpt the ser'ation' of said machine, a structure supported adjacent eachse'wing hfead'and having an opening'through "vvhich "s'ai'dbeam of light passes, three members pi otally mounted on said structure, "shut s :car'riedfby f'tli'e respective 'i'n'mbers and asses to positions in line with said opening, and parts connected with the respective members and engaging the respective threads of the sewing head with which they are associated to normally prevent the movement of said pivotal members, whereby the breaking of any one of the threads of either sewing head will release the corresponding shutter for movement into the path of said beam of light and thus interrupt the operation of said machine.

6. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a sewing machine which comprises a sewing head, means for moving articles to be sewed to and beyond said sewing head, means for tensioning and guiding a plurality of threads to the needle of said sewing head in substantially the same direction, said apparatus including a light sensitive device, a light source to project a beam of light onto said light sensitive device in a path substantially parallel to and adjacent the direction of movement of said threads, means controlled by said light sensitive device to interrupt the operation of said machine, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted between their ends on separate axes, which axes are substantially parallel with said beam of light, said levers being mounted adjacent said beam of light and intermediate the light source and light sensitivedevice, a shutter supported by each lever on one side of its axis for movement into and away from the path of said beam of light, said shutters being biased for movement into the said path and of a size to interrupt said beam of light, means connected with the other end of each lever for engaging one of said threads to support said lever in a position to retain the shutter thereon against said bias and out of line with said beam of light, so long as said threads remain continuous and tensioned, whereby the breaking of any one of said threads will release the lever connected with that thread and permit the shutter thereon to move into the path of said beam of light. I

'7. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a sewing machine which comprises a sewing head, means for moving articles to be sewed to and beyond said sewing head, means on said sewing head for separately guiding a plurality of threads to the needle of said sewing head in substantially the same direction, said apparatus including a light sensitive device, a light source to project a beam of light onto said light sensitive device in a path substantially parallel to and adjacent the direction of movement of said threads, means controlled by said light sensitive device to interrupt the operation of said machine, a supporting structure mounted on said sewing head, located in the path of said beam of light between said light sensitive device and light source, and having an opening formed therein through which said beam of light passes, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said structure, shutters carried by the respective levers and biased toward said opening in the path of said beam of light, and means for connecting said levers with the respective threads to support said shutters against said bias normally away from said openingand to release any one of said shutters for movement across said opening to interrupt said beam of light when the thread supporting the same breaks.

KENNETH N. MOORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 8 Name Date Ross et a1 Nov. 13, 1934 Wood Apr. 26, 1938 Metcalf Mar. 4, 1941 James Feb. 16, 1943 Klumpp et al. Feb. 8, 1944 Lambach et a1 Nov. 27, 1945 

